quote:So what would be wrong with buying the gun for him and he only touches the gun under the fathers supervision?

I don't know if there's anything "wrong" w/ that approach; it just wasn't the approach I felt most comfortable w/. When I bought handguns for my kids, it was my intention to give it to them for their possession as they had moved away. I was given my first handgun by my parents when I was 18, as well. To be more accurate, I actually bought the gun myself w/ my own money.

I'd wait till I was absolutely sure of the maturity of the kid. And I mean ABSOLUTELY sure.

I agree. No matter how disciplined you think your kid is, you need to remember how much different muzzle control is with a pistol vs a long gun. It isn't hard to accidentally point it at your own foot.

I have no problem with you saying a gun is theirs once they're an adult. And I don't think you should allow them full access to ANY firearm without supervision unless you are absolutely certain of their safety and I still wouldn't let them be around anyone other than myself in that case. They may not shoot themselves with a long gun but they can still frick up and shoot someone else.

I had gun safety pounded into me since I learned to speak because of who my dad was. But I still don't think it would be smart to just let kids run around with guns without supervision or hunting with other kids with guns without supervision or even having anyone else around them actually. Too many variables there where something goes wrong and they shoot someone. That said, I hunted alone from the time I was about 11 years old and I've never had an accidental discharge in the 35 years since then. But very few kids get my upbringing in gun safety.

Even then I still wasn't allowed a to shoot rifles alone in anything other than a bullet trap with a berm behind it without supervision other than deer hunting on a lease where we knew where everyone was.

Pistols? LOL you shitting me? I shot them a lot, but it was ALWAYS under supervision. There is no reason to let a kid run around unsupervised with a pistol. None. Anything he can do with that he can do better and safer with a long gun.

I can't imagine giving a handgun to anyone less than 18. Not only for the physical ability to handle it but the maturity and responsibility needed to have one. A 16 yo with a handgun in his truck? Neah.

Lots of decent feedback...The wife and I talked about it and we've decided to wait and get him a handgun when he is older. Personally, 18 at minimum.

Also, below is my 1st response to those offering feedback from page 1. I just baffles me to think that some folks thought I would just arm a 13yo with a pistol and let me just roam around.

(quote]I think its more of a thing where he wants it so he can say he has one of his own. He would never be permitted to use it without me around. Other than that he would have zero access to it. And FTR he is a pretty mature and responsible kid for his age. But my initial response to him was that I'd get him one when he left home. [/quote]

I don't think it'd be horrible to buy a single six for yourself and let him shoot it every now and then. Don't tell him it's his until you feel ok with him bringing it out himself.

I've been thinking about it, and I think I was borrowing my old man's .22 pistol with ratshot when I started driving. I don't think I started shooting any gun for fun until I was about 20. Before that if I pulled a trigger, I was either sighting in a gun or killing something.

Is the question when to buy them one, or when to turn them loose with one? I have a 9 year old daughter who has her own .22 lr hand gun. Now she doesn’t touch it out of my sight, but it is hers. We are very safety conscious, and constantly preach and practice gun safety. I like the thought of her being completely comfortable with any weapon, for her future safety, and if one day in the future she happens to meet a boy and he turns out to be liberal or something.